On The Timing and Virtues of the Night of Power: The Heart's Joy in Remembering Laylat al-Qadr by Ibn al-ʿIrāqī
Latest
Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Violence: How to Navigate Hindu Supremacy
Safa AhmedHindutva does not only harm Muslims in India; it has found resonance in diasporic communities, involves itself in transnational repression, and openly pledges its allegiance to other far-right movements. Its supporters amplify Zionist propaganda that enables Israel’s genocide in Palestine, provide...
The Meaning of La Ilaha Illa Allah: An Annotated Translation of Imam al-Zarkashi’s Treatise on the Islamic Testimony of Faith
Sh. Yousef WahbIn the forty-seventh sūra of the Qur’an, Sūrat Muḥammad, God commands, “So know that there is no deity except Allah.” What makes this command especially striking is its timing; it was revealed approximately fifteen years into the Prophet’s mission, at a point when he and his companions already held...
The Divine Wisdom Behind the Pairing of Allah's Names in the Qur'an
Jinan Yousef“Allah has ninety-nine names. Whoever preserves (ahsaha or hafidhaha) them will enter Paradise.” Such was the teaching of the Prophet ﷺ. Many of us have heard this hadith, but fewer of us have internalized the true scope of its meaning. To preserve Allah’s names is not simply to memorize them—it is...
Love and Hate for God’s Sake: Revisiting the Doctrine of al-Wala’ wal-Bara’
Dr. Hatem al-HajProperly reconciling commitment to God and compassion for man is among the most pressing needs of today’s world. It is no secret that Muslims’ relationship with the “other” (including fellow believers of other theological orientations) has become such a major trial for many—particularly those...
Marriage and Gender Roles in Islam: Beyond Rights and Duties
Dr. Tesneem AlkiekOver the past two centuries, Muslim societies confronted what often felt like insurmountable trials: from colonial domination and military defeat to political fragmentation and institutional decay. And yet, even as the Western world began to stagger under the recoil of the very ideologies it...
Virtues of Surah al-Baqara: Healing and Protection in the Qur’an’s Longest Chapter
Sh. Suleiman HaniOne night, standing underneath the vast stretch of the starry sky, Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr found himself reciting Surah al-Baqara. His horse, tied beside him, suddenly grew agitated. When Ibn Ḥuḍayr paused his recitation, the horse fell silent. He resumed his recitation, only for the horse to again become...
Belief in Divine Love: Discovering Spiritual Attachment Styles
Dr. Hassan ElwanWhat is your spiritual attachment style? Explore how our belief in divine love can effect our attachment to God scale and how our image of God influences how we relate to Him.
10 Ways to Maximize Your Worship in the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan | Blog
Dr. Omar SuleimanWe have a unique opportunity in the last 10 nights of Ramadan to seek forgiveness and draw closer to Allah. Here are 10 tips to make the most of these blessed nights.
Parenting Style and Our Relationship With God: The Influence of Parental Love on Our Perception of God
Dr. Osman UmarjiOne of the most foundational Islamic beliefs is the acknowledgment of Allah’s sovereignty. Sovereignty refers to Allah’s absolute ownership, power, and supreme authority over the universe. Allah refers to Himself as ‘the Owner of Sovereignty’ (Mālik al-mulk), and Sūrat al-Mulk begins with the...
Belief in Divine Love: Discovering Spiritual Attachment Styles
Dr. Hassan ElwanWhat is your spiritual attachment style? Explore how our belief in divine love can effect our attachment to God scale and how our image of God influences how we relate to Him.
10 Ways to Maximize Your Worship in the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan | Blog
Dr. Omar SuleimanWe have a unique opportunity in the last 10 nights of Ramadan to seek forgiveness and draw closer to Allah. Here are 10 tips to make the most of these blessed nights.
And just like that, an entire month of fasting has gone by. Even though the thought of fasting for weeks on end may have felt intimidating before Ramadan began, many of us simply blinked and time was up. We have been left with a profound sense of bitter-sweetness now that the month is over. “What...
Ayatul Kursi is one of the most important verses in the Qur’an. It is known as the greatest verse in the Qur’an and should be memorized, understood, and often recited. It serves as a daily means of protection from worldly harm, and also as a means of protection from unseen sources of harm.
Parenting Style and Our Relationship With God: The Influence of Parental Love on Our Perception of God
Dr. Osman UmarjiOne of the most foundational Islamic beliefs is the acknowledgment of Allah’s sovereignty. Sovereignty refers to Allah’s absolute ownership, power, and supreme authority over the universe. Allah refers to Himself as ‘the Owner of Sovereignty’ (Mālik al-mulk), and Sūrat al-Mulk begins with the...
Focused on the concept of Sirat al-Mustaqim, this series provides clarity and direction in an increasingly complex world. It draws upon foundational texts to help believers stay grounded in their faith.
Shari'ah in Today's World: Renewing Islamic Discourse
Dr. Hatem al-Haj
Renewal of religious discourse in Islam (tajdeed) has taken center stage due to the turmoil in Muslim lands nowadays. While the concept of tajdeed is legitimate, the implication (occasionally stated explicitly) that religious discourse is the root cause of the many problems from which...
In Defense of Faith: Principles and Guidelines for Islamic Apologetics
Dr. Hatem al-Haj
This essay has been summarized based on an intensive course delivered by Dr. Hatem Al-Haj entitled Islamic apologetics in December 2019 and presented in essay format by Dr. Nazir Khan with additions and final essay verified, edited, and approved by Dr. Hatem al-Haj. Introduction The principles...
Why We Need Ulama: The Importance of Seeking Islamic Knowledge From Scholars
Dr. Usaama al-Azami
Why should Muslims seek Islamic knowledge from ulamāʾ, known as scholars of Islam? Learn about the importance of seeking guidance from islamic scholars and why it is essential towards upholding our practice of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Finding Truth in the Age of Fake News: Information Literacy in Islam
Anonymous Guest Author
Information literacy is the set of skills needed in the modern age to discover, evaluate, interpret, and use information properly and truthfully. With the worldwide proliferation of misinformation on the internet, information literacy is rapidly becoming the most important human competency of the...
A Sober Second Thought: When and How Should Changes in Islamic Law be Made?
Amir Abu-Ghudda
It is common for us to hear talk about the need for change and adaptability in Islamic law. The unprecedented developments that human society has gone through since industrialization have made dramatic change the rule, not an exception. This is true even since the advent of the smartphone and...
Focused on the concept of Sirat al-Mustaqim, this series provides clarity and direction in an increasingly complex world. It draws upon foundational texts to help believers stay grounded in their faith.
Shari'ah in Today's World: Renewing Islamic Discourse
Dr. Hatem al-Haj
Renewal of religious discourse in Islam (tajdeed) has taken center stage due to the turmoil in Muslim lands nowadays. While the concept of tajdeed is legitimate, the implication (occasionally stated explicitly) that religious discourse is the root cause of the many problems from which...
In Defense of Faith: Principles and Guidelines for Islamic Apologetics
Dr. Hatem al-Haj
This essay has been summarized based on an intensive course delivered by Dr. Hatem Al-Haj entitled Islamic apologetics in December 2019 and presented in essay format by Dr. Nazir Khan with additions and final essay verified, edited, and approved by Dr. Hatem al-Haj. Introduction The principles...
Why We Need Ulama: The Importance of Seeking Islamic Knowledge From Scholars
Dr. Usaama al-Azami
Why should Muslims seek Islamic knowledge from ulamāʾ, known as scholars of Islam? Learn about the importance of seeking guidance from islamic scholars and why it is essential towards upholding our practice of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Finding Truth in the Age of Fake News: Information Literacy in Islam
Anonymous Guest Author
Information literacy is the set of skills needed in the modern age to discover, evaluate, interpret, and use information properly and truthfully. With the worldwide proliferation of misinformation on the internet, information literacy is rapidly becoming the most important human competency of the...
A Sober Second Thought: When and How Should Changes in Islamic Law be Made?
Amir Abu-Ghudda
It is common for us to hear talk about the need for change and adaptability in Islamic law. The unprecedented developments that human society has gone through since industrialization have made dramatic change the rule, not an exception. This is true even since the advent of the smartphone and...
The Forgotten Muslims: How Kashmiris Breathe Islam Under Occupation
Ahmed Bin Qasim
!هم کیا چاہتے؟ آزادی !آزادی کا مطلب کیا؟ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ!تیرا میرا رشتہ کیا؟ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُHum kyā chahtay? Azādi!Azādi kā matlab kyā? Lāʾilāhaʾillā-llāh!Terā merā rishtā kyā? Lāʾilāhaʾillā-llāh!(What do we want? Liberation!What does liberation mean? That there is no God...
Cultivating Faithful Enthusiasm: How the Qur'an Creates Transformative Willpower
Dr. Shabbir Akhtar
The moral and spiritual providence of God What is exceptional about the mission of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, even in a history of prophetic missions that spanned millennia, is that the early Muslims not only believed and joined the mission, they did so with unparalleled enthusiasm and total...
Prophetic Ethics: A Model for those Seeking God and Eternal Life
Dr. Ovamir Anjum
For part one in this Ethics Series, see Being a “Good Person” is Not Enough: Why Ethics Need Islam Introduction “God is Beautiful and loves beauty,” said Muhammad ﷺ, the Final Messenger of God. And nothing is more beautiful for the human being, after faith in the Truth Most High, than the...
Honored Since Adam: Islam and the Value of Human Freedom
Dr. Edward Omar Moad
One recent Ramadan, I spent more time than I should have reading the news and keeping up with the general mayhem of the Middle East. At one point, thousands of Yezidis had fled to a mountain and were under siege by Daesh. According to the story, the American military heroically came to their...
What is Islamic Analytic Theology?
Dr. Edward Omar Moad
The aim of this paper is to share some thoughts and broad proposals on the prospect and definition of a contemporary Islamic Analytic Theology, the role it might play in today’s world, and some of the tasks it should undertake. First, I will propose a definition of the field, in terms of its...
